65 Quick icebreakers for office and virtual team meetings

Virtual icebreaker games are a fun and creative way to build these relationships – no matter where people are located. Virtual settings can feel a little distant, but the right question can make everyone feel more connected. These icebreakers are designed for remote teams, video calls, and virtual meetups. For short team meetings, try icebreaker questions like “What are you looking forward to this month? ” or “What do you love the most about collaborating with our team? ” For longer team events, you could try creative, problem-solving games like pitching movie concepts, coming up with product ideas, or solving a murder mystery together.

It’s hard to predict, but this one could get interesting, so our advice is to use only with established teams. Ask your teammates to share the celebrity that people say resembles them most, and include an image reference if possible. With a visual platform, you could also gamify the experience by having everyone vote anonymously for the most convincing doppelgänger. HeySummit is the easiest way for creators and educators to grow their audience, authority and revenue with professional online events created in minutes, not weeks.

Create epic adventures,

With groups where trust is high, ask each team member to share one of the most recent photographs on their phone and tell a story about it. 9 Dimensions is a powerful activity designed to build relationships and trust among team members. Participants are given a list of items to choose from and must work together to decide which items will help them stay alive. She created a slideshow of random travel pictures, started a story, and then called on one of our teammates to follow up on what she had said, based on what picture was currently up. In one of the meetings, he asked everyone to anonymously submit into Slido three brands they know they ‘love a bit more than is logical’. Tell your colleagues to bring an object that has special meaning to them or that is tied to an exciting story.

Mood barometer

For easier management, you can divide the team into smaller groups. To incentivize participation and dedication, you can announce a reward for a team that comes up with the best solution. From visually appealing meeting agenda templates to meeting notes, Bit helps you create professional, easy-to-follow documents that keep everyone aligned. Embed rich media like videos, charts, and images directly into your notes to make them more interactive and engaging.

The visual prompts are immediate conversation starters that double as displays of each person’s personality or interests. This classic icebreaker works just as well online as in real life, though I’ve found it most effective in breakout rooms. The most interesting conversations that arise from this game are often about discussing the two truths that came up, rather than simply finding out if we’re right or wrong. For teams looking for a more in-depth activity, the 9 Dimensions icebreaker activity is a great way to share strengths, weaknesses and preferred ways of working with the group. It’s the ultimate team bonding experience – if your teammates love a good game, they’re going to be fans. There are plenty of escape room platforms out there, for example, Escape Live.

  • This question is an excellent virtual ice breaker for both speakers and attendees, as it can uncover common interests and spark meaningful conversations.
  • Every age group brings its own energy, interests, and style of connection.
  • This is an easy game to play and doesn’t require a separate platform like some of the other games listed.
  • Get creative and have fun while keeping the conversation light.

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  • This can be as quick as 5 company-related questions, or more involved, like a traditional game show.
  • This can give attendees new places to add to their bucket lists while helping them learn more about each other.
  • In the age of remote work and virtual collaboration, large teams often face the challenge of fostering cohesion and camaraderie.
  • A little recognition goes a long way, setting the right atmosphere for icebreaking with new employees.

Something as simple as an exclusive emoticon dropped in the company chat is a fast, fun way to say thank you. Companies like BSC Analytics use HeyTaco to get even more from this practice. Offer team members lunch, and they can sit in on a useful, relevant presentation or discussion. Toward the end, everyone can catch up, share thoughts or concerns, and ask questions. Listen, we know the majority of teams aren’t comprised solely of adrenaline junkies or people who live at the gym. But most of us feel the physical effects of sitting down all the time.

Share a meme

In this virtual team icebreakers activity, the organizer will make two teams. One person in a group can draw images on a whiteboard to answer questions about themselves. Break down that hierarchical or cultural barrier at your workplace with the classic ‘Wheeldecide’ virtual icebreakers. All you have to do is invite the meeting members and ask them to spin the wheel one by one. For a fun twist, customize the themes to create different options on the wheel for different games, events, giveaways, raffles, and more. If you cannot strike up a conversation with other team members because you do not know each other well, then this is your chance to break the wall and get to know each other better.

Invite experienced speakers

This is a recitation game where a person has to talk about a given topic for one minute. Following that, provide some topics to each group, or have them run suggestions by you. If there are too many members participating in the game, you can reduce the recitation time to make sure everyone gets a go. This activity is a great way to initiate a meeting and learn more about your colleagues. A good rule of thumb is to aim icebreakers for virtual meetings for activities that take less than five minutes, with a maximum duration of 30 minutes to be mindful of everyone’s time. Online board games offer a wide range of options for team members to enjoy together, fostering collaboration and strategic thinking in a fun and engaging way.

Bit’s real-time editing allows multiple team members to work on the same document simultaneously, making meetings more interactive and productive. Plus, with inline comments and @mentions, discussions happen right where they’re needed—no need for long email chains or scattered feedback. Start with the letter ‘A’ and ask the first participant to name something related to work that begins with that letter. This activity not only helps to break the ice but also serves as a fun brain exercise.

Office superlative awards

Then, take turns sharing your creations and what makes that character special. In today’s world of side hustles, it’s nice to have hobbies that aren’t monetized. Kick off your meeting with this question so everyone can share their practical advice. Pictionary is similar to charades, except that people draw pictures instead of acting out the phrase or word assigned to them.

It’s one of the most effective virtual team ice breakers to try. You can purchase kits from Hunt a Killer and mail out the clues before your virtual event. Or, check out Wildgoose to help you plan a completely virtual murder mystery experience. This question is great for getting your workmates to open up and talk about what matters to them.

Thanks to this virtual icebreaker, you can see what other people have been up to and have experienced, and you can celebrate some of your top moments. Similar to the previous virtual icebreaker, you can engage people in ranking their favorite things, whether from their childhood or not – the possibilities are endless. We’ve all been there – the start of a virtual or hybrid meeting where there’s an awkward silence.

Team-building activities have become an essential part of modern workplace culture. Knowing when to ask for help and when to offer it is an underrated benefit of team-building. Taking more pride in one’s work is a sure sign of successful team-building. When you elevate workplace morale, tasks are taken on with more enthusiasm. They can taste and debate the best matcha or flavored seltzer during the virtual coffee break.